PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacob De Molay (ranked 1792 p4p, 224 weight class) and Arnoldas Sireika (ranked 2074 p4p, 253 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

De Molay
vs
Sireika

185 cm
29
197 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
30
197 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jacob De Molay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Arnoldas Sireika!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Steven Brown and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Molay keeps the fight on the outside.
De Molay blocks a jab.
Sireika misses with a body shot.
De Molay is looking for a counter combo.
De Molay misses with a jab, cross combination.
De Molay keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sireika pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sireika uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by De Molay.
Sireika ducks down and throws a hook to the body but De Molay moves away.
De Molay jabs at Sireika's body.

Sireika moves into the clinch.
Sireika working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sireika lands a left hand that snaps the head of De Molay backwards.
Sireika keeps the fight in the clinch, despite De Molay's efforts to push away.
Sireika misses with a punch on the inside.
Sireika working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sireika lands a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sireika prevents De Molay from breaking the clinch.
De Molay slowing the pace effectively.
De Molay avoiding damage as Sireika throws knees to the body.
Sireika tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sireika lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Sireika misses with a punch on the inside.
Sireika misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sireika tries a body shot but De Molay blocks it.
Sireika throws a knee to the head but misses.
Sireika tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sireika throws an elbow but misses.
De Molay has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sireika misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sireika throws a head punch that misses.
De Molay is pushing Sireika up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
De Molay taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sireika lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt De Molay or not.
Sireika lands a hook that snaps the head of De Molay backwards.
Sireika doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sireika tries to land knees in the clinch but De Molay avoids the damage to the body.
De Molay tries to circle away but Sireika has him pinned against the cage.
De Molay wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sireika has him pressed against the cage.
Sireika throws a head punch that misses.
Sireika tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sireika lands a right hand that snaps the head of De Molay backwards.
De Molay avoiding damage as Sireika throws knees to the body.
Sireika tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
De Molay misses with a body punch.
De Molay blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sireika lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sireika misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Molay goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sireika.
Sireika misses with a hook to the ribs.
De Molay wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sireika has him pressed against the cage.
Sireika goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sireika pushes De Molay back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Sireika lands a right hand that snaps the head of De Molay backwards.
De Molay has Sireika pressed against the cage.
De Molay dodges an elbow strike from Sireika.
Sireika missing with knees to the body.
Sireika is leaning against De Molay and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
De Molay is breathing heavily.
Sireika presses De Molay against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Sireika is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. De Molay is defending well for now.
Sireika throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but De Molay blocks it with crossed arms.
De Molay trying to control the position but instead, Sireika has worked for underhooks and has pushed De Molay into the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sireika just misses with a elbow thrown towards De Molay's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Molay on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Sireika trying to land knees to the body.
De Molay wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sireika has him pressed against the cage.
Sireika keeps control of De Molay as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sireika keeps the fight in the clinch, despite De Molay's efforts to push away.
De Molay dodges an elbow strike from Sireika.
De Molay is looking to break free of the clinch but Sireika has double underhooks.
De Molay blocks an uppercut.
De Molay tries to break the clinch but Sireika is controlling the position.
Sireika crunches a lovely knee into De Molay's ribcage.
Sireika works on De Molay's body with a couple of short punches.
Sireika lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of De Molay backwards.
Sireika throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnoldas Sireika dominated that round.
That's time! De Molay's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sireika lands a straight punch to the body, keeping De Molay at a distance.
Sireika throws out a powerful jab.
Sireika throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sireika lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sireika lands a nice looking body shot.
Arnoldas Sireika seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sireika throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent De Molay stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nice body punch from Sireika.
Sireika fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sireika lands a straight punch to the body, keeping De Molay at a distance.
Sireika thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sireika connects with a body shot that sends De Molay's belly button to the back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters circle momentarily. Sireika darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
De Molay looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Sireika lands an overhand right.
Sireika just misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
De Molay takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sireika pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
De Molay takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sireika throws a head kick but De Molay moves out of range.
Sireika looks to land a combination but De Molay avoids it well.
De Molay throws a body punch but Sireika moves out of range.
Sireika scores with a jab. De Molay acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sireika wants to clinch up but De Molay keeps it at a distance.
A counter left hand to the body from De Molay misses its target.
Sireika is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down De Molay rather than just go for the knockout.
Sireika tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sireika takes a swing at De Molay's ribcage but misses.
A little feinted left hand from De Molay on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A lazy left from Sireika finds it's target.
De Molay takes a kick to the side of the head.
Sireika swings and misses with a hook to the body.
De Molay appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Sireika throws a sloppy head kick and De Molay moves out of range easily.
De Molay swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Sireika scores with a sloppy right hand. De Molay should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Molay closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Molay misses with a double jab.
Sireika throws a hook but De Molay avoids it easily.
Sireika slips a jab and a cross from De Molay.
De Molay just misses with a punch to the body.
De Molay shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
De Molay has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sireika finds it's way round the side to connect with De Molay's head.
De Molay throws a body shot but no joy.
Jacob De Molay is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De Molay is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

It looks like Jacob De Molay has been cut.
A jab from Sireika misses.

Sireika clinches up against the cage.
De Molay avoiding damage as Sireika throws knees to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sireika creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sireika throws a punch but it's blocked by De Molay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Molay tries to break free but Sireika pushes him back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Sireika as the two fighters clinch.
De Molay blocks an uppercut.
Sireika working some nice short punches in the clinch.
De Molay tries to break the clinch but Sireika is controlling the position.
De Molay stalling in the clinch but Sireika improves position.
Sireika throws a punch but it's blocked by De Molay.
Sireika works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Sireika throws a head punch that misses.
Sireika tries a knee to the head but De Molay blocks it.
Sireika working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Sireika tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
De Molay controlling the action here for a moment.
De Molay blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Sireika fails to land.
De Molay blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
De Molay working aggressively here.
Sireika tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A head punch on the inside from Sireika fails to land.
Sireika keeps the fight in the clinch, despite De Molay's efforts to push away.
Sireika using the Thai plumb to throw knees but De Molay has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sireika has De Molay pressed against the cage, preventing De Molay from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sireika with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
De Molay struggles to land a body shot inside as Sireika controls his hands.
De Molay lands an uppercut.
Sireika working aggressively here.
Sireika missing with knees to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
De Molay tries to break the clinch but Sireika is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arnoldas Sireika showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jacob De Molay's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sireika takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Sireika has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
De Molay drops his hands momentarily and Sireika takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sireika fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches De Molay on the side of the head.
Sireika catches De Molay with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sireika scores with a hook.
Sireika bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nice shot by Sireika.
A jab lands there for Sireika.
Sireika throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent De Molay stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Sireika lands with a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sireika lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Arnoldas Sireika seems to be getting the better of the standup.
De Molay on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sireika lands with a shot to the body.
Sireika with a nice cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sireika is looking to clinch.
De Molay swinging wildly here.
Sireika keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sireika misses with an uppercut.
Sireika fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. De Molay looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Sireika with a nice cross.
Sireika jabs at De Molay's body.
Sireika lands with an uppercut that bounces De Molay off the cage and back into range.
Sireika lands a straight punch to the body, keeping De Molay at a distance.
A lazy left from Sireika finds it's target.
Sireika connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between De Molay's hands.
De Molay avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
De Molay avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from De Molay misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Molay takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sireika throws a big shot that misses.
Sireika has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sireika catches De Molay with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Jab from Sireika.
Sireika throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A counter left hand to the body from De Molay misses its target.
Sireika uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from De Molay.
De Molay misses with a hook
and Sireika connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sireika changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
De Molay keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sireika.
Sireika misses with a looping left.
Sireika misses with a straight left.
De Molay keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sireika fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Molay lands with a cross.
Sireika tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
It looked like De Molay wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
De Molay walks into a straight right hand from Sireika.
De Molay misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sireika lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
De Molay takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sireika scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Sireika rushes De Molay and presses him up against the cage.
Sireika misses with some punches.
De Molay is pushing Sireika up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from De Molay.
Sireika tries a body shot but De Molay blocks it.
Jacob De Molay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

De Molay pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sireika takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sireika, as that shot connected.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sireika just misses with a punch to the body.
Sireika tests De Molay's chin there with a solid looking shot.
De Molay has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Sireika misses with a hook. De Molay ducked under it nicely.
De Molay was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sireika dodges the punch combination from De Molay.
Sireika swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Sireika works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sireika connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sireika scores with a shot to the body.
Sireika blocks a jab.
De Molay takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arnoldas Sireika comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sireika has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arnoldas Sireika!
A determined Arnoldas Sireika didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!